The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on the issue of enforcing emission standards in tune with EURO V for diesel and petrol vehicles in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir sought response from the Centre on a PIL seeking its direction to introduce updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards in tune with Europe and USA and in consonance with EURO V.

The petition, filed by Arvind Gupta, an economist, pleaded that steps needed to be taken to prescribe stringent emission standards for vehicles so as to control air pollution and protect the health of citizens.

It sought an appropriate direction for taking of adequate steps immediately to prescribe emission standards in tune with EURO V on all appropriate parameters such as particulate matter or RSPM, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and lead for diesel and petrol vehicles uniformly throughout India.

Referring to a WHO report, the petitioner submitted that Indian cities have now become among the world's most polluted areas and the executive and the legislature have failed in their duties to frame guidelines to control the pollution.